Game Day: Rangers visit MinnesotaInjury bug hits Broadway as Higgins, Avery, and Gaborik all to sit

Rangers @ Minnesota

XCel Energy Center, 8 pm

Rangers Record: 8 - 4 - 1

Wild Record: 3 - 9 - 0

Adding insult to injury.

Following Wednesday night's abysmal effort at Long Island, the news isn't getting any better for the Rangers. Winger Marian Gaborik still isn't 100% so he won't skate before possibly Sunday back at the Garden. Added to the injury list are now Chris Higgins, lower body injury, and Sean Avery, injured knee.

Forward Dane Byers has been recalled from Hartford. P.A. Parenteau, who recorded the lone goal against the Islanders, will be back in the lineup.

Speculative line combinations:

Lisin - Prospal - Callahan

Dubinsky - Drury - Kotalik

Byers - Anisimov - Parenteau

Voros - Boyle - Brashear

You can also expect to see more fourth line play than in previous games.

For the Wild, Minnesota has not been able to recover from some offseason changes, finding themselves in the Western Conference cellar.

Losing Gaborik has had a major impact, with Mikko Koivo, Eric Belanger, and Andrew Brunette trying to makeup the offense. Each has recorded 10 points in 12 games.

However, the problem for the Wild has come on the defensive end of the puck, with nearly every player in the minus column. Defenseman Brent Burns, a standout last season, is a -13 with only five points. Marek Zidlicky has recorded six assists with no goals.

Goaltending has also been a concern as Niklas Backstrom has been unable to find his game early on with 3 victories and a 2.70 GAA.